Increasing taxes on some commodities, such as hard drugs and alcohol, is something worth considering, especially in today’s world, where so many people are obsessed with things they shouldn’t be. With the tax, the price of these commodities will skyrocket, leaving consumers discouraged when they can no longer afford them. It’s also a win for the government because, while they are preventing chaos for people, they are also making more revenue to keep the country going forward.
Of course, the money will fill many holes for the government, but there will definitely be challenges, especially in countries where the system of government has failed due to corruption.
My first major concern is where the additional tax will go because, already, our current taxes aren’t being put to proper use. There is always news of looting here and there involving heavy cash, enough to push the nation forward, and when these people are charged to court, the judge demands half of the looted money as bail, and that’s the end of everything.
Such cases won’t be revisited unless culprits stop dancing to the beat of the current government. Looting and mismanagement of revenue would eventually make the increase in taxes on some hard drugs and alcohol pointless. It’s like preventing people from committing a crime just to pave the way for someone else to commit another crime.
I remember the time a particular cough syrup became people’s choice for refreshments, all because it makes them high after diluting with other stuff. The government placed a ban on the drug, and I think it can’t be purchased without a doctor’s prescription now. I was in a bus that day when two guys were chatting about a birthday party.
They wanted to make something strong, and one of them said he knew where to get the stuff, even without a doctor’s prescription, but it’s a bit costlier than usual.
Yes! the government placed a ban, but they aren’t in complete control of what’s happening in the market, most especially the black market where banned or controlled substances are bought and you can literally find anything there as long as you have your money.
While the government doesn’t have full power over the black market, I have a strong belief that they are part of the deals running in those secret markets because, if not, how do seized goods find their way back into the market? It makes no sense without the support of people in the government—so the people who made this law are the ones who break them too, making these banned substances available to users.
But with these two things taken care of, increasing taxes on these items wouldn’t be a bad idea, and it’s a win-win situation for everyone. I believe its an effective way to curb the consumption of some substances across the world.
A lot of times when I see people heavily consuming substances they shouldn’t, I feel bothered. I wonder if they do not value their well-being, or are they just being unreasonable? Our health should be our priority and not that of the government because they have enough to deal with already.
There is an agency against hard drug consumption in Nigeria already; they go about arresting people involved with hard drugs, which should be enough, but we always have our ways of blaming the government for even our own mistakes. Without tax increments, a lot of people should know that they don’t need hard drugs due to their negative impact on our health.
Posted Using INLEO
